The actual invention of language is not known except for references in the Bible. It is not known what language Adam and Eve spoke. The first mention of different languages is the reference to the tower of Babel when different tongues were bestowed – also mentioned in scripts other than the Bible. (The phrase “Tower of Babel” is not actually used in the Bible – it is mentioned as “the city and its tower“.)

Today, there are more than 2,700 different languages spoken in the world, with more than 7,000 dialects. With so many languages, how do airlines operate safely?

Pilots can communicate with their local Air Traffic Control in their home language. But should the air traffic controller (in any country) prefer, he may choose to communicate in English. You can actually listen to live Air Traffic Control communication around the world. However, all international airline pilots communicate in English. Although, as this video shows, some pilots have difficulty mastering English.